"I knew Ajay before joining films"...... Page 4 SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015 INTERNET EDITION : www.dailyexcelsior.com/magazine 'Even mud used to cushion my feet'...... Page 3 TURNING DECEIT INTO DEFEAT Col J P Singh, Retd OUR BRAVE SOLDIERS At the closing end of 20th century, a geo-political crisis erupted in the Captain Vikram Batra was serving with 13 JAK RIF during Opera- Himalayan borderlands of Northern India with surreptitious infiltration tion Vijay. On 07 July 1999 he volunteered to assault and recapture the of Pakistani soldiers in Kargil heights which subsequently led to 4th area north of Point 4875 from where an enemy local- Indo-Pak war. It was the last armed conflict of 20th century fought ity was interfering actively in the operations of 13 between historically inimical neighbours, India and Pakistan, on the JAK RIF. The task involved an assault along a trans-himalayan plateau from May to July 1999.The genesis of Kargil narrow ridge with sharp cuttings on either side Conflict lie in Pakistan's repeated failure to annex Kashmir. Three con- to clear a heavily fortified feature. ventional wars, 10 years of failed J&K militancy and 15 years of losing Personally leading the assault Captain Batra battle of Siachen had actually driven Pak to utter despair. Therefore she engaged the enemy in a fierce hand to hand fight resorted to surreptitious ingress of Pakistani soldiers across the LoC in and killed five enemy soldiers at point blank Ladakh in May 1999. It took the country entirely by surprise and gen- range. During the assault he sustained grievous injuries. Despite his injuries, Captain Batra crawled erated grave misgivings about the failure of defence apparatus and seri- towards the next enemy sangar and continued to hurl grenades and fire ous concerns about army's preparedness. Pakistan called it 'Kargil Ki from his AK 47. Despite stiff resistance from the enemy this gallant offi- Jung' whereas Indian Army named it 'Op Vijay'. cer refused to yield ground. He was focused on only one direction of Kargil was part of Baltistan District of princely state of J&K. 1947 Indo-Pak war movement and that was forward. He rallied his men, pressed home the bisected Baltistan giving kargil to india. Kargil town lies at the junction of Shingu and attack and finally succeeded in achieving what had seemed to be a mil- Suru rivers on 205 kms long NH 1D which connects Leh to Srinagar. Many Army itarily impossible task. Inspired by this extraordinary display of fear- posts on the LoC in Ladakh sector, which were 16 to 18 thousand ft high, used to be vacated during the winters when the temperature fell to minus 40 and re-occu- lessness and raw courage by their leader the troops fell upon the ene- pied in summers. It was a routine practice for both sides to abandon such posts. In my with a vengeance and vanquished him. April-May 1999, Pakistan infiltrated Special Operations Groups (SOG) troops, North- Earlier, on 20 June 1999, Captain Vikram Batra then leading 'D' ern Light Infantry(NLI) regiments, mercenaries with Afghani and Sudanese terror- Company had displayed sterling leadership qualities by leading from ists under operational command of Maj Gen Ashraf Rashid to covertly occupy Indi- an vacated positions from Dras to Chorbat La and Turtok, South of Siachen, 160 the front to physically assault enemy positions on point 5140 in the kms in stretch. On 3rd May 1999, a grazier informed the army about intrusion in Drass sub-sector. He had launched a daredevil assault on the enemy, Batalik. On 5th May a patrol led by Capt Saurab Kalia was sent to verify the infor- who was well entrenched and armed to the teeth with sophisticated mation. This patrol was ambushed and all of them tortured to death. On 9th May weapons pouncing on the enemy, he had personally killed four intrud- Pak shelled Kargil Ammunition Depot which caught fire causing panic in the town. After 1971 war there has been no major confrontation except periodic clashes ers in a hand to hand fight. With victory at this feet and cries of "Bharat in Siachen. Consequent to nuclear tests by both sides in 1998, tensions heightened. Mata ki Jai" and "Durge Mata ki jai" resounding in this ears this brave To defuse tensions, Indian Premier Atal Bihari Vajpayee took a bus journey to Lahore son of India made the supreme sacrifice and wrote a new saga of courage in February 1999 and signed 'Lahore Declaration' with Nawaz Sharif. While India that will further enrich the traditions of the Indian Army. For his unpar- was making peace overtures, Pak army was covertly infiltrating in Kargil. Their objec- alleled feats of conspicuous personal gallantry and fearlessness in the tives were to severe links between Srinagar and Leh; to force vacation of Siachen by doing Siachen in Kargil and to internationalise Kashmir issue hoping to secure face of enemy, exceptional fighting spirit, exemplary junior leadership a speedy resolution. and selfless devotion to duty Captain Vikram Batra was posthumously Indian army responded promptly. Gen Krishan Pal, GOC 15 Corps flew to Kargil KARGIL VIJAY DIVAS awarded the Pram Vir Chakra, India's highest gallantry award. to assess the situation immedaitely after capture of Capt Kalai led patrol. Seeing The young officers and men supported by 3000 volunteers did a splendid job on enormous infiltration by aerial reconnaissance, he ordered immediate move of an Rifleman Sanjay Kumar volunteered to be the leading scout of the Infantry brigade and and an Arty Regiment(regt) form valley to kargil. Due to bad the ground. 527 soldiers and 7 porters of 'Tanda Tiger Force' laid down their lives. weather GOC had to return to Srianagr by road. Enroute he met and cheered the 1363 soldiers were wounded, disfigured and maimed for life. Histroy of Kargil has attacking column tasked to capture area Flat Top of Infantry and Arty regt columns for their breakneck speed to Kargil war zone. This is been written in their blood. Triumph War Cry of late Capt Vikram Batra, Param Vir Point 4875 in the Mashkoh Valley on 04 July 1999. the professionailsm of Indian army one can be proud of. Pakistani intruders carried Chakra, "Dil Mange More' thundered from the towering mountains of Kargil. It was Enemy's automatic fire from one of the sangars out direct firing on the moving columns. Undettered they moved on and reached heard in Islamabad and New Delhi. It inspired the nation which stood as one dur- ing the war. posed stiff opposition and stalled the advance. kargil the same night and were ready for action next morning. Thereafter the other With utter disregard for his personal safety in reinforcements followed. It is to the sacrifices of these young warriors, Kalias and Batras and volunteer NH 1D had come under close range of Pak intruders. Hence protection of this Dogras that this article is dedicated to, in all humility. To God goes the glory. Thank the ensuing hand to hand combat, he killed route by recapturing forward posts became priority right form the beginning. This God you sent these warriors to the Indian Army and led veterans like me also to three of the intruders and was himself seri- involved clearing Tiger Hill and Tololing in Dras. Capture of Tololing and Tiger Hill the service of the nation. Nation owes a lot to the martyrs of 'Op Vijay' because of ously injured. However, despite his injuries, the adverse climatic conditions in which they fought without raising an eyebrow and tilted the combat in India's favor. After gaining control of the hills overlooking the he continued to fight and charged on to the sec- highway, army turned towards depth positions and launched final attacks in July. turned Pak masterly deceit into her shameful defeat. World watched mesmerized as the Indian soldiers fought yard by bloody yard in the Pakistan lost 2,700 soldiers in the Kargil Jung; far higher than its casualties dur- ond sangar that had been interfering with the most inhospitable terrain at 16 to 18 thousand heights. ing the 1965 and 1971 wars. Pak Premier Nawaz Sharif has said in his memoirs attack. The enemy got stunned by this breathtaking display of raw guts Mountains are said to eat troops. Kargil is a recent exapmle of testing High Alti- "Ghadaar Kaun? Nawaz Sharif Ki Kahani, Unki Zubani", that the casualties suffered and fled from the scene, leaving behind one UMG. Rifleman Sanjay tude Warfare. Besides intelligence failure there were shortages in manpower and were so extensive that an entire brigade of NLI was wiped out. Benazir Bhutto called Kumar picked up the weapon left behind by the fleeing Pakistani sol- equipment. When asked about shortages, Gen Malik, Army Chief said, "yes, we it "Pakistan's greatest blunder" and ex military and ISI officers lambasted the war have shortages. But we will fight with whatever we have". Shortages in manpower as "a disaster bigger than the East Pakistan tragedy". diers and shot them dead. Although by this time, Rifleman Sanjay was made up to some extent by raising six Porter Coys of civilian volunteers. Each campaign leaves certain lessons for the posterity and perspectives for Kumar was bleeding profusely from his wounds, he refused to be evac- The fighting ceased on 26th July 1999. The day has since been christened as future. Kargil war is no exception. In the age of L-e-T and ISIS, all pluralistic democ- uated. This super human display of courage by Rifleman Sanjay Kumar Kargil Vijay Diwas and is celebrated with great fest and fervor more-so because of racies face threats from an ideology which is hostile to other religions, freedom, steeled the resolve of his comrades and motivated them to wrest Area the price Pakistan paid for the deceit. Besides military victory, it is celebrated for democracy and sexual equality. Islamic world is in turmoil today and hence unsta- Flat Top from the hands of the enemy. For his fearlessness, uniquely the shameful political defeat that Pakistan faced after the war. Nawaz Sharif tried to ble. In the last decades India has faced a host of military and non military threats assassinate Gen Musharraf by ordering crash of his aircraft. Survived Musharraf from within and outside. China is increasing its military strength in POK. Therefore aggressive fighting spirit and most conspicuous gallantry against heavy staged a coup and nealrly assassinated premier Nawaz Sharif. Musharraf ruled for country will have to be prepared for a conventional war, limited war, proxy war, ter- odds, leading to the capture of a difficult but important objective, a 10 years as miliitray dictator and trampled whatever democracy Pakistan had. He rorism, militancy, chemical & biological war as well as nuclear war. It brings out grateful nation honoured Rifleman Sanjay Kumar with Param Vir was hounded out and is being tried for treason. It is an event of military history which another dilemma, under the circumstances how should India deal with the phenom- Chakra, India's highest gallantry award. India will never like to forget which Pakistan will never like to remember. enon of aberrant neighbors. This needs immediate attention and lot of preparations.

drought-hit area. On some occasions, he stopped rain when it was likely to cause sufferings or death. He was able, with his control over the elements, to know which organ of a person's body was diseased. He could cure a person with a mere look or by offering the Bhasam from his Dhoni; "he cured dreaded diseases like can- Bhagawaan Gopinathji cer, epilepsy and other physical ailments of the supplicating devotees." He would often urge the devotees to lift the veil of ego that envelops the Atman. its people as a spiritual icon. Bhagawaanji also exercised a beneficent influence on He observed vehemently: AHANKAARAS NAMASKAR, SUIGAV OMKAR - the modern age and the prevailing concepts. TAMISAATI BANI SAAKSHATKAAR, which conveys, 'Bid good bye to the ego and Gopinathji, one among several brothers and sisters, was born in a middle class be face to face with Truth' (implying the attainment of God Realization). Kashmiri Pandit family at Banamohalla, Srinagar, Kashmir on 3rd July, 1898. His Almost on every Sunday, musicians would sing till late in the night, the Bha- mother, Shrimati Haara Maali, passed away when he was only twelve and his father, gawaan would never ask them to stop. But on his last Sunday on earth, 26th May, Pandit Narayan Joo Bhan, breathed his last when he (Bhagawaanji) was in his late 1968 he directed the musicians to stop, remarking, "we shall not listen to any more twenties. music". Then came May 28th, 1968 Tuesday, the day Bhagawaan Gopinathji final- Gopinathji was educated upto the Middle standard, however, he was well conver- ly chose to cast off his Bhautik Sareera. At about 3 p.m. he had the last few puffs sant with Urdu, Hindi, Persian and Sanskrit languages besides English. at his chillum. A devotee started making tea but Bhagawaanji said, "we shall not The family into which he was born, being in dire financial straits, he was asked to take tea any more". He asked for water at 5:30 p.m. and at 5:45 p.m. he uttered take up some work; so, at the young age of fifteen or sixteen, he started working at Om Namah Shivaya in a low voice, looked around with infinite love towards those a local Printing Press as a compositor - a job he performed competently. However, present and closed his eyes. he gave up the job after about three years. In his twenties, he ran a grocer's shop, at After Bhagawaanji attained Nirvana, his disciples built an Ashram at Kharyar, which he was noticed generally absent-minded, being inwardly absorbed in medita- Srinagar where his marble statue was installed in 1973. This Ashram has become tion. HIS elders in the family pressed him to marry, hoping that marriage would a centre for the spiritual upliftment of his devotees. After the mass exodus of the bind him to the world, and so he would be a permanent financial support but he was adamant in his refusal to shape into a house holder. Bhagawaanji started with Pandits from the Valley, other Bhagawaanji ashrams came up at Udaiwala Road, the spiritual discipline known as Panchaanga-Upaasanaa, involving meditation on Bohri, Jammu and at Pamposh Enclave, New Delhi. At these ashrams all activi- the five deities -- Ganesha, Surya, Naarayana, Shiva and Shakti. Later, his target ties that were regularly performed in Srinagar Ashram are being performed regu- was the Divine Mother Shaarika, whose vision he had for the first time, at the age larly. The number of devotees participating in all such activities is going up day by of Twenty Seven. Gradually, he shifted to nirguna upaasana, that is, meditating on day. Bhagawaan Gopinathji Trust has expanded its activities at all these Ashrams the Supreme Reality without a form. In his early thirties, he took to intense Saad- over and above the infrastructure. With the ever increasing number of devotees hana (spiritual discipline). Shutting himself up in a room, which no one except across the globe, many more Ashrams, Meditation Centres and Satsang Mandals mostly a niece of his, was free to enter, an earthenware lamp was kept burning have come up at Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Vikaspuri, Chandigarh, Australia, there all the twenty four hours and the Bhagawaan did not allow any intrusion or Switzerland and at various other places as well. the room to be even swept. His concentration was so intense and he grew so obliv- All these ashrams and centres disseminate Bhagawaanji's gospels of spiritu- ious of his body that a rat nibbled a hole in one of his heels. During this seven- ality and universal brotherhood with great zeal and enthusiasm. year period of Saadhanaa, he would take no food for long intervals - extending In recognition of his spiritual stature as an extra-ordinary Saint, the Govt. even to six months, sometimes. Bhagawaanji helped two girl-devotees, separate- of India issued a commemorative postal stamp on Him in 1998 - his birth cen- ly, to have a darshana (vision) of the Divine Mother of the Universe. A third was tenary year. helped to have an illuminative experience - a darshana of the Mother in the form A new Heritage Hall depicts the replicas of various places where Bhagawaan- of dazzling effulgence matching that of several suns. He did not initiate a disciple ji resided and the pilgrimage centres he visited. The various articles of daily use directly by word of mouth as tradition demands. He did so by a mere glance, by such as the fire pot (Kangri), Pheran, Chillam etc. used by Bhagawaanji consti- giving the devotee a little bhasama or prashad, or in the case of a male devotee, tute a captivating aspect of the Heritage Hall now preserved as relics. The Jam- offering him puff from his chillum. He felt happy when particularly a celebate came mu Ashram has been brought officially on Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Map. Our to see him though he never asked a house holder disciple or devotee to give up posterity will be proud of such an ancestor as the Bhagawaan who became a his wife and children in pursuit of self-realization. Jagadguru in his life- time. Bhagawaanji was far above any consideration of caste, creed or nationality. The Trust organizes a number of social and religious functions such as Navreh, Tej Krishen Raina From 1947 onwards, people of all creeds would come to see him and he would Mahayanjya, Mahajayanti, Painting Competition, Navratra, Baldivas, Hora Ashta- shower his love and compassion equally on all. Once he said, in an answer to a mi and Shivratri at all these centres on regular basis besides financial help is being Jagadguru Bhagawaan Gopinathji was one among the most eminent Saints that devotee's question, "Is a Hindu one and a Muslim another?" Among his disciples provided liberally in the shape of medical, destitute, education and handicapped aid have ever graced the sacred land of India. Unlike the other Saints, he was called Bha- and devotees today are many who never met him in his life time. These are spread to the needy (irrespective of cast and creed). gawaanji and recognized as such in his life-time as all the six attributes which that over in other countries like Australia, the USA, Canada, Switzerland and the UK. Mentally retarded, orphan children and inmates of old age homes are helped by word stands for were prominently seen in him. He was a Jeewan-mukta, having Globally famous, he has come to be called a Jagadguru, a world spiritual teacher. way of providing them with uniforms, stationery items, blankets and clothings suiting attained mukti or liberation while still in the gross body, to which he was not attached During his earthly sojourn and even after abandoning the mortal coil the Bha- to their requirements. In the event of natural calamities, relief is provided to the affect- in the least. HIS spiritual state was what the Shaivites call Shaambhavi avastha (the gawaan cared for his devotees in and outside Kashmir and India. While sitting in ed people by the Trust and substantial amount is also donated to the Prime Ministers state of Shiva Himself) and the Vedantins, Brahmisthiti (the state of ever dwelling in his room when alive or having left his physical frame, he was seen at warfronts Brahman, or God without form). guiding and directing our troops in the years 1948, 1962, 1965, 1971 and 1999. Relief Fund on regular basis. An OPD is functioning at Jammu Ashram where free With his spiritual prowess, he did a lot of good to many spiritual aspirants, house- Bhagawaanji was Tatvajnani (one who has all the knowledge about the elements check up of ailing people is done by noted specialists and also free medicines are holders and to the country at large. He brought many sinners round to the path of of Nature). By a special type of saadhanaa, he had gained control over all the ele- provided to them. The Trust has also established a pathology laboratory at Bhagawaan virtue. Though essentially detached, he showed much concern for the country and ments. During a pilgrimage to the holy cave of Amarnath, he brought rain to a vast Gopinathji Ashram at Udaiwala, Bohri, Jammu.